Mero vs Mahi-mahi

Epinephelus itajara comparado com Coryphaena hippurus

Taxonomy & Classification

Atributo	Mero	Mahi-mahi
Nome Científico	Epinephelus itajara	Coryphaena hippurus
Ordem	Perciformes	Carangiformes
Família	Serranidae	Coryphaenidae
Conservation Status	Vulnerable	Least Concern

Physical Traits

Atributo	Mero	Mahi-mahi
Comprimento Máximo	250,0 cm	210,0 cm
Peso Máximo	363,0 kg	40,0 kg
Cor	Yellow-brown to olive-green body densely covered with small dark brown spots and irregular blotches; 3–4 faint pale vertical bands on the flanks; juveniles show bolder contrasting yellow and black stripes.	Dazzling iridescent blue-green and gold flanks; males have a blunt squared-off head; flanks flicker golden-yellow to electric blue when alive, fading to dull gray-green at death.

Habitat & Environment

Atributo	Mero	Mahi-mahi
Tipo de Água	Saltwater	Saltwater
Faixa de Profundidade	0-100m	0-85m
Distribuição Geográfica	Tropical western Atlantic from Florida and the Gulf of Mexico through the Caribbean Sea to Brazil, and eastern Pacific from the Gulf of California to …	Worldwide in tropical and subtropical oceanic waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans. Highly pelagic; gathers around floating sargassum mats, current lines, and thermocline …
Habitat	Neritic, coral reefs, estuaries	Neritic, pelagic, coral reefs

Informações de Pesca

Atributo	Mero	Mahi-mahi
Peixe Esportivo	Sim	Sim
Classificação de Resistência	9/10	7/10
Recorde Mundial	—	—
Nível de Mercúrio	—	—

Cuisine & Edibility

Mero

Firm, flaky white flesh with a mild, sweet flavor; harvest is heavily restricted or banned throughout most of its range due to Vulnerable status. Catch-and-release strongly encouraged.

Mahi-mahi

Firm, slightly sweet flesh with large, moist flakes and low fat. Excellent grilled, blackened Cajun-style, or in tacos; one of the most popular sport fish for the table.

Species Overview

Mero

The goliath grouper is the largest grouper in the Atlantic Ocean. This massive reef dweller can swallow prey whole and produces a distinctive booming sound by contracting its swim bladder to ward off intruders.

Mahi-mahi

The mahi-mahi, also known as dorado or dolphinfish, is among the most colorful pelagic fish in the ocean. Its iridescent blue, green, and gold body fades rapidly after death. It is a fast-growing species, rarely living beyond five years.